Weightlifting bar system

ABSTRACT

An example weightlifting bar system includes a bar shaft, and a sleeve on at least one end of the bar shaft. A first bearing and race assembly supporting the sleeve in a first position and at least a second bearing and race assembly supporting the sleeve in a second position, each bearing and race assembly having an outer bearing assembly adjacent the sleeve and an inner bearing race adjacent the bar shaft. The outer bearing assembly rotates around the inner bearing race while the inner bearing race remains substantially stationary relative to the bar shaft.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/778,926 filed Mar. 13, 2013 titled “WeightliftingBar” of Philip Patti, hereby incorporated by reference in its entiretyas though fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND

Weightlifting equipment is available for recreational use (e.g., in thehome), commercial use (e.g., in gyms), and competitive sports (e.g., theOlympics and other venues). Bars may be loaded with hundreds of poundsof weights. During lifting, the bars may be dropped and/or thrown downonto the floor, sometimes landing at an angle relative to the floor. Thebar shaft material is typically HRC 38-45 hardness and the bearings areHRC 60+ hardness. The shaft over time may become damaged when dropped onhard surfaces similar, e.g., creating flat spots or indentations tohitting a round surface with a hammer. This may cause an effect of thesleeves mounted on the bar that is similar to a bent wheel being “out ofround” on a car.

Manufacturers have attempted to combat this condition by using extrahardening procedures at the ends of the bar shaft. These procedures areexpensive and potentially dangerous if the shaft hardness is elevated tosuch an extent that the bar shaft is too stiff for weightlifting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a is an illustration of an example weightlifting bar system.

FIG. 1 b is an exploded view showing components of the exampleweightlifting bar system shown in FIG. 1 a.

FIGS. 2 a-d are illustrations of the example weightlifting bar system.

FIG. 3 a shows an example weightlifting bar system as it may be suitablefor a larger user.

FIG. 3 b shows an example weightlifting bar system as it may be suitablefor a smaller user.

FIG. 4 shows an example bearing and race of the weightlifting barsystem.

FIG. 5 shows an example bearing race assembly of the weightlifting barsystem.

FIG. 6 illustrates example assembly of the bearing assemblies on theweightlifting bar system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An example weightlifting bar system is disclosed including a bar shaft,and a sleeve on at least one end of the bar shaft. A first bearing andrace assembly supporting the sleeve in a first position (e.g., on oneend of the sleeve) and at least a second bearing and race assemblysupporting the sleeve in a second position (e.g., on the second end ofthe sleeve). More bearing and race assemblies may be provided. In theexample shown in the drawings, two bearing and race assemblies supportthe sleeve in the first position, and one bearing and race assemblysupport the sleeve in the second position. Other configurations are alsopossible. For example, a plurality of bearing and race assemblies (e.g.,more than two, or more than three) may be provided at various spacing(or positions) along a length of the sleeve. It is also noted that thebearing and race assemblies may be positioned substantially at the endsof the sleeve and/or may be spaced further inward along the sleeve.

Each bearing and race assembly have an outer bearing assembly adjacentthe sleeve and an inner bearing race adjacent the bar shaft. The outerbearing assembly rotates around the inner bearing race while the innerbearing race remains substantially stationary relative to the bar shaft.

In an example, the bearing and race system may be installed in thesleeve and over the bar shaft at a precision fit. The precision fit mayalso reduce contaminants from coming into contact with the sealedbearings. The bearing rotates around the inner race, which remainsfairly stationary on the shaft. In an example, the bearings are needlebearings. A separate race system may also be provided, wherein thebearings do not touch the bar shaft, thus reducing or altogethereliminating damage to the bar shaft.

The example weightlifting bar system provides the user with a smoothfeel during weightlifting. In addition, dropping example weightliftingbar system does not affect the bar because the hard needles (e.g., whenneedle bearings are used) do not come into direct contact with the bar.Furthermore, the size of the bearings can be much larger than otherwiseprovided with bar shafts, giving the example weightlifting bar system ahigher load rating.

Before continuing, it is noted that as used herein, the terms “includes”and “including” mean, but is not limited to, “includes” or “including”and “includes at least” or “including at least.” The term “based on”means “based on” and “based at least in part on.”

FIG. 1 a is an illustration of an example weightlifting bar system 100.FIG. 1 b is an exploded view showing components of the exampleweightlifting bar system 100 shown in FIG. 1 a. In this example, a baror bar shaft 101 is provided (e.g., fitted) on each end of the bar shaft(although only one end of the bar shaft is shown), with a sleeve 102with collar 103. As can be seen in FIG. 1 b, the sleeve 102 may befitted to the bar shaft 101 with two bearing assemblies on one end ofthe sleeve, 104 and 105, each formed by an inner race, 106 and 108, anda bearing, 107 and 109. In an example, the bearings 107 and 109 may be aneedle bearing. Other types of bearings may also be employed. At theother end of the sleeve 102, a single race 110 and outer bearingassembly 111 (or simply “bearing 111”) may fit the sleeve 102 to the barshaft 101. In an example, two bearings on provided on the collar end,and one bearing on the other end.

An example end of a bar shaft 101 is shown as it may be about 25 mm(millimeters) or 28 mm in diameter with a collar 103 having a 2.750 to3.250 inch diameter and being about 30 mm wide, although the disclosureherein is not limited to any particular size components. The bar shaft101 may be installed inside an example bar sleeve 102. An inner bearingrace 110 (or simply “race 110”) and bearing 111 are also fitted withinthe other end of the sleeve 102 between the sleeve 102 and the bar shaft101 at a proximal end of the bar shaft 101.

FIGS. 2 a-d are illustrations of the example weightlifting bar systemshown in FIG. 1 a, with FIGS. 2 b-d being cross sectional views of theexample bar sleeve shown in FIG. 2 a. It is noted that the bearing(e.g., as shown in FIG. 2 c) can be moved down if desired (e.g., toabout 1.750 inches). Bearing assemblies 104 and 105, which include races106, 108 and bearings 107, 109, may be fitted within one end of thesleeve 102 onto the bar shaft 101 that is on an interior position on thebar. Although two assemblies 104, 105 are shown, fewer or moreassemblies may be used. In an example, more bearings provide addedbenefits (e.g., smoother operation during lifting and higher loadratings).

A second bearing assembly 112, with race 110 and bearing 111, may befitted in the sleeve over the bar near a proximal end of the bar. Asecond weightlifting bar system 100 may also be fitted to the distal endof the bar shaft (not shown).

As shown in FIGS. 3 a and 3 b, a weightlifting bar system 100 with asleeve length of approximately 445 mm may be used for example with a 28mm diameter bar, as is shown in FIG. 3 a. A sleeve with a length ofapproximately 350 mm may be used with a for example 25 mm diameter bar,as shown in FIG. 3 b. However, these may vary in other examples. Theselengths include the mm wide collar 103. FIGS. 3 a-b illustrate exampledesign specifications for a weightlifting bar system configured for useby a larger competitor which may be a man or male competitor, as in FIG.3 a, and a smaller competitor, which may be a woman or female competitoror a junior competitor being a younger male or female, as in FIG. 3 b(or other users). The sizes are illustrated and non-limiting.

In an example, the weightlifting bar system may be manufactured as a 20kg (kilogram) bar or a 15 kg bar. Other sizes are also contemplated. Itis also noted that the designs disclosed herein can be made of a varietyof different types and/or hardness material(s), and the hardness of thebar shaft is not a limiting factor. In a non-limiting example, thematerials used for manufacture may include steel or stainless steel.

Before continuing, it should be noted that the examples described aboveare provided for purposes of illustration, and are not intended to belimiting. Other devices and/or device configurations may be utilized tocarry out the operations described herein.

FIG. 4 shows an example bearing and race of the weightlifting barsystem. The example race 106 and bearing 107 are shown as these may forma bearing assembly 104. FIG. 5 shows an example bearing race assembly104 of the weightlifting bar system. The bearings, which may be needleor other bearings, and bearing race for an improved weightlifting barsystem may be, as discussed above, a 32 mm inner diameter (ID) bearingrace or a 29 mm ID bearing race. In an example, the bearings innerdiameters are substantially equal to the outside diameter of the race.These bearings offer a higher load rating per bearing, so that extrabearings are not needed. The bearings may also be considered to be aprecision bearing.

FIG. 6 illustrates example assembly of the bearing assemblies on theweightlifting bar system. The bearing assembly 104 is shown with a race106 and bearing 107 partially assembled on a bar shaft 101. A secondrace 108 is assembled onto the bar shaft 101 ready to accept a bearing109, the sleeve 102, and collar 103 (not visible in FIG. 6).

It is noted that the examples shown and described are provided forpurposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting. Stillother examples are also contemplated.

1. A weightlifting bar system, comprising: a bar shaft; a sleeve on atleast one end of the bar shaft; and a first bearing and race assemblysupporting the sleeve in a first position and at least a second bearingand race assembly supporting the sleeve in a second position, eachbearing and race assembly having an outer bearing assembly adjacent thesleeve and an inner bearing race adjacent the bar shaft; wherein theouter bearing assembly rotates around the inner bearing race while theinner bearing race remains substantially stationary relative to the barshaft.
 2. The weightlifting bar system of claim 1, wherein the innerbearing race is stationary and does not move relative to the bar shaft.3. The weightlifting bar system of claim 1, wherein the outer bearingassembly includes needle bearings.
 4. The weightlifting bar system ofclaim 1, wherein a separate race system is provided having bearings thatdo not touch the bar shaft to reduce or altogether eliminate damage tothe bar shaft.
 5. The weightlifting bar system of claim 1, furthercomprising a precision fit between the sleeve and the bearing and eachbearing and race assembly to reduce or altogether eliminate contaminantsfrom coming into contact with sealed bearings in the sleeve.
 6. Theweightlifting bar system of claim 1, wherein the rotation of sleeveprovides a user with a smooth feel during a weightlifting exercise. 7.The weightlifting bar system of claim 1, wherein the outer bearingassembly does not come into direct contact with the bar shaft even whenthe bar shaft is dropped.
 8. The weightlifting bar system of claim 1,wherein a size of the outer bearing assembly is sized to provide ahigher load rating.
 9. A weightlifting bar system, comprising: a bearingand race system assembled on opposite ends of a bar shaft, each of thebearing and race systems having at least two outer bearing assembliesand at least two inner bearing races; a sleeve installed over thebearing and race systems at a precision fit; and wherein the outerbearing assemblies of each bearing and race system is rotatable relativeto the inner bearing race while the inner bearing race remainssubstantially stationary relative to the bar shaft.
 10. Theweightlifting bar system of claim 9, wherein the inner bearing race isstationary and does not move relative to the bar shaft.
 11. Theweightlifting bar system of claim 9, wherein the outer bearingassemblies of each bearing and race system includes needle bearings. 12.The weightlifting bar system of claim 9, further comprising a separaterace system, wherein outer bearing assemblies of the separate racesystem do not touch the bar shaft, reducing or altogether eliminatingdamage to the bar shaft.
 13. The weightlifting bar system of claim 9,further comprising sealed bearings in the sleeve.
 14. The weightliftingbar system of claim 13, wherein the precision fit reduces contaminantsfrom contacting the sealed bearings in the sleeve.
 15. The weightliftingbar system of claim 1, wherein the outer bearing assemblies do notdirectly contact the bar shaft.
 16. The weightlifting bar system ofclaim 1, wherein a size of the outer bearing assemblies is selected toprovide a desired load rating.
 17. A weightlifting bar system,comprising: a first and second sleeve, each sleeve configured to beassembled on one end of the bar shaft; and a first bearing and raceassembly supporting a single sleeve in a first position and a secondbearing and race assemblies supporting the single sleeve in a secondposition, each bearing and race assembly having an outer bearingassembly adjacent the single sleeve and an inner bearing race adjacentthe bar shaft.
 18. The weightlifting bar system of claim 17, furthercomprising three or more bearing and race assemblies supporting eachsleeve.
 19. The weightlifting bar system of claim 17, further comprisingmore than three bearing and race assemblies supporting the sleeve. 20.The weightlifting bar system of claim 17, wherein the outer bearingassembly rotates around the inner bearing race while the inner bearingrace remains substantially stationary relative to the bar shaft.